What to read this month

Looking for a good book to read or give? Check out these end-of-year “best of 2009” lists for some ideas.

The National Book Foundation announced the 2009 National Book Award winners on November 18, 2009. Check out this year’s winners or take a look at the winners from previous years to find some great reading material.

It’s Banned Books Week from September 26 – October 3, 2009, a time for everyone to celebrate their freedom to read. This list includes the top 10 books of 2008 most frequently challenged (books that individuals or groups attempted to remove or restrict). For more books, check out the American Library Association’s list of all books challenged and banned in 2008-2009 (pdf).

Frank McCourt

Award-winning author Frank McCourt died in July 2009 at age 78. His memoir depicting a harsh childhood in Ireland, Angela’s Ashes, not only won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, but also the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Check out a few of Frank McCourt’s books at the Library or view some documentaries about his family and the feature film adaptation of Angela’s Ashes.

Celebrate Culinary Arts Month in July with these delicious novels – from drama to romance to mystery – which all feature chefs at work.